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Risks of Fast Foods

Fast food joints have grown in popularity over the years, thanks to advertisements boasting about tasty convenience. A quick stop at the fast food window seems so much easier to an on-the-go mom or harried commuter. But behind those promises of all white meat chicken and all-beef patties may lurk serious risks to your health.

  1. What's In It?

    • Fast food is typically fried in oil containing unhealthy trans fats, points out Claudia Anrig, D.C., on ChiroWeb.com. Trans fat is fatty acid that increases the amount of cholesterol that is contained in foods, and can cause arteries to clog, decreasing their ability to function.

    Research

    • Risks associated with fast foods include stroke, heart attack, obesity and even cancer. Registered nurse Jeffrey Zurlinden reports that the campaign to win customers starts with young children, and he estimates that "about 96 percent of American school-aged children recognize Ronald McDonald, second only to Santa Claus."

      According to 2009 study at the University of Michigan Medical School, there was a "significant association between fast food restaurants and stroke risk in neighborhoods" packed with fast food choices. High amounts of fat and cholesterol are bad for the heart, says HeartDiseaseAwareness.com, and can clog arteries, which makes the heart work overtime to pump blood through the body. An overworked heart is at risk of a heart attack. Such a diet is also known to increase the risk of obesity.

      Another 2009 study showed that some fast food restaurants are serving up meals containing carcinogens---chemicals known to cause cancer. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which is suing Kentucky Fried Chicken, "Independent laboratory tests show that KFC's grilled chicken contains PhIP, a chemical that can increase a person's risk of developing cancer even if consumed in small amounts."

    Criticisms

    • Fast food restaurants don't offer enough information about the ingredients in their meals or how the food is prepared, critics argue. Fast food may sit under a heat lamp to keep it warm after it is cooked, which, along with undercooked meat, poses a food-poisoning risk, Zurlinden points out. Cooking oils, says HeartDiseaseAwareness.com, are often reused, and "cancer can be caused by repeatedly re-heating and re-using the same oil to cook the food."

    Misconceptions

    • There seems to be a misconception that people can avoid the health risks associated with fast food by choosing "healthier" menu items. Healthy foods often still have unhealthy toppings, such as high-calorie salad dressings. Even if portions are smaller, frying foods at high temperatures cooks most, if not all, of the nutrition out of them, leaving little but unhealthy fat, sodium and cholesterol, according to HeartDiseaseAwareness.com.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If you enjoy fast food but wish to decrease the associated risks, you can do so by making better choices. Special orders are accepted at most fast food restaurants; consider asking them to hold the cheese and mayonnaise, which contain high amounts of fat. Salads can be a healthy option as long as you choose low-fat or fat-free dressing. Skip the sugary drinks and drink water with your food instead. Choose healthy sides such as fruits or baked chips, instead of fries, and do the same for your children.

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